(NEPAL) World Renew is responding to the catastrophic earthquake that shook the country of Nepal on April 25, 2015 and caused tremors as far away as China and Pakistan. As of today, the death toll from this disaster is well over 5,000 and thousands of additional people are reported to be injured or missing. Sadly, these numbers are projected to increase as rescue efforts continue.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake is the worst disaster to strike the country in 80 years. According to the United Nations office in Kathmandu, an estimated 6.6 million people live in the 30 districts that were struck by the quake. Approximately 90% of the homes near the epicenter of the earthquake have been completely destroyed. Roads and other infrastructure were also badly damaged.
In response to these extreme needs, World Renew is working with Christian Reformed World Missions, the Evangelical Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Christian Reformed Churches. Funding permitting, World Renew aims to provide water purification tablets, water filtration systems, emergency food, cooking fuel, and tents to those most in need.
CRWM has staff on the ground in Nepal and relationships which can be used to identify vulnerable families. World Renew is providing these staff with training in how to carry out disaster response activities, and will then use these existing networks to distribute tents and safe water.
Many of these supplies will reach communities where five Christian Reformed Churches of Nepal are located. These churches were very near the epicenter of the quake. One church says that while their building survived the quake, nearly all of the 1,000 houses in their town have been damaged. Another church reports that 3,000 homes were completely wiped out. Many of these people are now living in the churches and are desperately in need of the water, food and tents that World Renew can provide.
In another partnership, World Renew will work with Evangelical Presbyterian Theological Seminary, to provide financial assistance to 61 students who want to return to their homes now that classes have been cancelled. It is also providing one month of food assistance on campus to students who no longer have a home to return to.
These efforts are just the beginning. As it is still the early stages after this terrible earthquake World Renew is continuing to work on filling gaps as government and NGOs are mobilizing a national response. In the coming days additional responses will be added and World Renew will plan to support partners with longer term recovery efforts.
“We grieve with our brothers and sisters who have lost loved ones or sustained injuries in this terrible earthquake” explains Ken Kim, World Renew’s Director of International Disaster Response.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with our World Missions colleagues as well as other local partners to share Christ’s love in the midst of this tragedy. Our prayers are with communities affected in Nepal and their friends and families. We thank those who have already generously supported World Renew’s response and we ask others to please consider supporting this response.”
